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Egg production has increased but the industry's environmental impact has decreased, according to a study conducted from 1960 to 2010. Greenhouse gas emission are down 71%, water consumption by hens is down 32% per dozen eggs, and hens are producing 27% more eggs per day. "The U.S. egg industry has evolved remarkably over the past five decades by incorporating new technologies to protect natural resources," said lead researcher Hongwei Xin, animal science professor at Iowa State University and director of the Egg Industry Center.

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Egg Farmers of Canada has given a $500,000 donation to Iowa State University's Egg Industry Center to go toward the study of avian flu, which has affected millions of hens and other poultry in the state. "First of all, we've got to find out how the virus gets spread. That's an immediate need -- why the virus has spread so fast from farm to farm, and within the farm. The transmission dynamics," said Hongwei Xin, director of the center.

Unilever continues to explore scientific trials that aim to prove the benefits of tea on mood and brain performance. The company is focusing on caffeine and L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea leaves that may help reduce stress and improve sleep and relaxation. "Research on the benefits of tea is promising for attention and alertness, although questions remain regarding the scope and magnitude of impact as well as the sensitivity of different individuals," the study's scientists wrote.

The AVMA reviewed a video showing hens being mistreated and improperly caged by the egg producer Sparboe Farms, which supplies McDonald's and Target, and condemned the producer's animal handling. "Holding suppliers responsible for the care they give animals is essential to ensuring that livestock are treated humanely in production and processing facilities," said Dr. Gail Golab, director of the AVMA Animal Welfare Division.

Using a sealant on concrete floors can help factories cut down on contamination from bacteria that can thrive in porous concrete. Processing plants that handle food, such as those in the poultry industry, are especially at risk. The use of a commercial sealant was effective in reducing the survival of listeria and salmonella bacteria both on and below the surface of concrete, according to tests completed by researchers at Auburn University's Department of Poultry Science.

Researchers say milk is the beverage that provides the most nutrition for its environmental impact. They examined beverages including red wine, bottled carbonated water, orange juice and soft drinks using an index called the Nutrient Density to Climate Impact.